Schueberfouer: Lydie Polfer cuts the ribbon at the 684th edition [PHOTOS]

It’s (DP), which kicked off the 684thand edition of the Schueberfouer. The mayor of the City of Luxembourg cut the tricolour ribbon at 5.00 pm on Friday 21 August, in front of the entrance gate to the Schuman roundabout, flanked by the College of Mayors and Aldermen.

This was followed by the traditional parade of guests around the fairground, accompanied by the Luxembourg & Limpertsberg Municipal Band and the sheep decked with ribbons, before the ‘Ham a Kuch’ reception hosted by the Municipal Council at ‘Friture Armand’ at around 6.30 pm. The Hämmelsmarsch will take place on Saturday 22 August in the streets of the capital.

Local councillor Sylvia Camarda (DP) and alderman Laurent Mosar (CSV) stand alongside ‘Lämmy’, the Schueberfouer mascot, on Friday 21 August at the Glacis field. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Sylvia Camarda, Yuriko Backes and Laurent Mosar are waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday 21 August. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Lydie Polfer has just cut the tricolour ribbon, to applause from the audience. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The City of Luxembourg’s scissors and the tricolour ribbon – two essential props for the opening of the Schueberfouer. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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No sooner had the ribbon been cut than the Luxembourg & Limpertsberg Municipal Band set off, leading the procession of political figures along the paths of the Champ du Glacis. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The ribbon-adorned sheep, a staple of the Schueberfouer opening, were there as always. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The rain started just after the ribbon was cut. Xavier Bettel and Lydie Polfer continued their tour of the fair under their umbrellas. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Xavier Bettel, Yuriko Backes, Lydie Polfer, Maurice Bauer and Patrick Goldschmidt during the traditional carousel ride. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The procession comes to a halt at the entrance to the carousel: there is widespread laughter amongst the town councillors and ministers during the traditional ride around the carousel. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Ahead of the ride, Deputy Mayor Patrick Goldschmidt, Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and First Deputy Mayor Maurice Bauer headed for the Ferris wheel. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Ready for take-off: Mayor Lydie Polfer, councillor Sylvia Camarda, aldermen Laurent Mosar and Simone Beissel, and senior alderman Maurice Bauer are boarding the Ferris wheel. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The customary greetings for Lydie Polfer at ‘Friture Armand’, the final stop on the inaugural fair tour. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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The final stop on the official itinerary: ‘Ham a Kuch’, served at around 6.30 pm at ‘Friture Armand’, where Yuriko Backes also took the time to say hello. (Photo: Jan Hanrion/Paperjam)

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Four new rides on the programme

Four new attractions are making their debut at the Glacis. The “Dr Archibald – Master of Time” ghost train combines a themed ride with virtual reality. The ‘King Loop’ features a series of loops and spins, whilst the ‘Skater’ swings and rotates a giant gondola high in the air. The City also lists the ‘Wilde Maus’ among its new additions – a family rollercoaster that has previously been at the Glacis.

On the dining front, ‘Paella by King Kong’ is joining the range of dining options. Three new shops are also setting up shop: Haribo, Handy Paradies and Helium Ballons.

Of the 214 fairground establishments recorded this year, 92 are from Luxembourg (42.9 per cent), 55 from France, 43 from Germany, 21 from Belgium and 3 from the Netherlands. In detail: 19 children’s rides and attractions, nine flat rides, eight high-altitude rides, two rail-based rides, one bumper car ride, 11 restaurants, 42 refreshment stalls and takeaways serving savoury food, 18 serving sweet treats, 15 sweet shops, 21 games stalls, 15 shooting galleries, seven games rooms and 40 street vendors. The City is expecting around two million visitors.

Opening hours: every day from 12 noon to 1 am, with catering establishments able to open from 11 am. There are three dates when you can enjoy the fair at a lower cost. On Wednesday 26 August, the fairground rides, games and attractions will be offering reduced prices all day. On Wednesday 2 September, restaurants, takeaways and sweet shops will be offering special deals. Finally, on Wednesday 9 September, the last day of the fair, rides and games will be half price from opening time until 8.00 pm, before the closing fireworks display at 10.00 pm from the Grande-Duchesse Charlotte Bridge.

Enhanced tram service and car parks

Throughout the fair, the tram runs every day until around 2 am, with a service every five to ten minutes. The special shuttle bus (route 37) runs between the Bouillon P+R and the Stade P+R and the Glacis from 11.30 am to 1.46 am. AVL lines 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 19, 21, 30, 32 and 33 serve the Fondation Pescatore and Theater stops.

The car park at the Schuman roundabout is closed until 10 September, except for season ticket holders and people with reduced mobility, who have access to around 20 spaces upon presentation of their parking permit. Paid parking will be in force in Limpertsberg, Pfaffenthal and Rollingergrund for the duration of the fair, up to 1 am on weekdays and from 2 pm to 1 am at weekends.